Closure check



March 15,1949. F. GERD 2,464,637

' cLosURE CHECK Filed Sept. 20, 1946 ATTD R N EYB Patented Mar. 15, 1949UNITEDv STATES TNT FFICE Claims.

My present invention relates generally to miscellaneous hardware inbuilding structures, and more specifically to an improved closure checkor rubber closure check of the spring-actuated type, which whileespecially designed for use with spring-closed screen doors, may withfacility be installed for use with other types of closures.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a door checkconsisting of an minimum number of parts that may readily bemanufactured at low cost of production and assembled with convenienceinto a device that is simple in construction and automatic in operationfor eective use in checking the. closing. movement of the door.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofcomponent parts as will hereinafter be described and specifically setforth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete examplevofthe physical embodiment of my invention in which the parts are combinedand arranged in accord with one mode I have devised for the practicalapplication of the principles of the invention. It4 will be understoodthat various changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made inthese eX- emplifying drawings and mechanical structures within the scopeof my claims without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectionalv View through a hinged screen doorand its frame, showing the frame equipped with a door check embodying myinvention.

Figurey 2 is a plan view of the door check with its covery plate removedshowing the operating parts in projected position; and Figure 3 is asimilar view with the resilient checking parts being compressed by theclosing movement of the hinged door.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing the movement of parts asthe check is automatically projected to operative position.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the position of parts While the dooris closed.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view at line 6-6 of Fig. 2;and

Figure 7 is a horizontal transverse -sectional view at line 1-1 of Fig.2.

In the illustration illustrated in Fig. 7 the door check is mounted at asuitable height upon a jamb J of the door frame F, with the leading edgeof the device flush with the exterior face or edge of the door frame,for contact of the door D, as it is automatically closed by its springS.

The operating parts of the door check are mounted in a rectangularhousing I having a closure plate 2, and both the plate and housing areprovided with registering holes for screws 3 by means of which thedevice is attached to the door frame'. By utilizing screw holes in boththe back wall of the housing and the front plate the device may beattached for use on either the left hand jamb or on the right hand ofthe frame for use with a spring closed door.

Within the housing is pivotally mounted the checking or cushioningelements, which include a rubber or resilient check 4 that is underhungor suspended aty its upper end on a transverse pivot pin 5 mounted inthe housing. This rubber check is fashioned with a front contact lug orbumper which, when the door is opened, projects through a slot l in theleading edge of the housing, and the bumper is held in projectedposition by means of a spring 8 that isinterposed between the check andthel top wall of the housing. The spring 5S constantly urges the checkto projected position as in Fig. 2 while the door is open; it iscompressed when the check is pushed inwardly by the closing door; and byits expansion on the overbalanced check in Fig. 5 the spring, togetherwith gravity action of the overbalanced check, project the bumper, as inFig. 4.

At its lower edge, the integral bumper of the check is fashioned with arounded convex cam face 9, and' the cam face terminates in a notch orshoulder I'U, While the rear portion of the bottom edge of the check isfashioned with two stepped notches II, I2', forming shoulders forcoaction with a detent I3 located below the inner portion of the check4.

The detent I3, like the check 4, is also composed of rubber or otherresilient material that is compressible and expansible, and thehorizontally disposed detent is pivoted, overhead, upon a transverse pinI4 mounted in the housing and offset from the vertical plane in whichthe checkpivot 5 is located.

The detent is provided at' its rear end with a squared edge for contactwith the back wall of the housing, and its overbalanced front portion isprovided with a notch I5 forming shoulders for alternate or selectivecoaction with the shoulders or notches I0, II, and I2 of the check 4.

Pivotally mounted below the detent and the bumper is a two-arm bracinglever having a long arm I6 for engagement with the detent, a short arml1 for co-action with the cam face or edge 9 of the bumper, and a pivotpin I8 mounted in the housing; and a stop pin I9 is xed in the housingand located beneath the long arm I6 to limit downward swing of the longarm I6.

With the operating parts of the device in position of Fig. 2, where thebumper is projected by action of spring 8, and the detent is braced orheld up in horizontal position by the brace arm i6, the bumper is in thepath of the closing door. As the door contacts with the bumper as inFig. 3, the alined bumper portion of the check and the detent contactingthe back wall of the housing are compressed, as they receive and absorbthe pressure of the closing door, to the shape shown in Fig. 3.

With the final closing movement of the door the check and the detent arecompressed together and swung on their offset pivots until they snap outof engagement to position of Fig. 5 Where the bumper is entirelywithdrawn within the housing, the bottom edge of the check isfrictionally engaging the top edge of the detent, and the overbalanceddetent is resting on the brace arm i6 which is supported by the stop pinI9.

In this retracted position of the operated parts they are held betweenthe spring pressure at the rear of the check and the weight or load ofthe closed door at the front of the check; therefore, when the door isagain opened to release the bumper, spring S expands to swing the checkto projected position, and with this swinging action the cam face 9rides down on the short arm Il to swing upwardly the long arm I6 of thebracing lever and the lever swings the detent on its pivot intohorizontal position for engagement of the shoulders or notches l5 andIl, l2, as in Fig. 2.

By these compressible and expansible movements of the resilient checkand detent, together with the co-acting gravity and spring-action on thecheck, and the lever action on the detent that is actuated by the camarrangement between the check and lever, the device absorbs the closingmovement of the door and cushions it with a noiseless action, and theparts automatically adjust themselves to their diierent positions forsubsequent operations.

The minimum number of operating parts provides for simplicity inoperation of the door check. and these parts may readily be replaced tocompensate for wear without the necessity Ifor employment of skilledlabor.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door checking device, the combination with a housing, aresilient spring-pressed check pivotally suspended therein, and a bumperon the check projecting through a slot in the housing, of a resilientdetent pivoted beneath the check and bearing against a wall of thehousing, and a releasable pivoted retaining brace mounted in the housingbelow the check, said brace having means engaging the check and detentrespectively.

2. The combination with a housing, a compressible and resilientspring-pressed check pivotally suspended in the housing, and a bumper onthe check, of a compressible and resilient overbalanced detent pivotedbeneath the check-pivot and axially alined with the bumper and a xedportion of the casing, and a pivoted brace on the housing below thecheck, said brace having means engaging the check and detentrespectively.

3. The combination with an elastic rubber check and a suspending pivottherefor, and a projecting bumper on the check, ofA an elastic rubberdetent having a supporting pivot and alined with the bumper, and apivoted resilient retaining brace von the housing below the check, saidbrace having means engaging the check and detent respectively.

l. The combination with a housing, an elastic rubber check pivotallysuspended therein, an integral bumper on the check, and a spring tendingto project the bumper, of an elastic rubber detent pivoted below thecheck and alined with the bumper, said detent at one end engaging a wallof the housing and at its other end in engagement with the bumper, aretaining brace pivoted below the check, and said brace having meansengaging the check and detent respectively.

5. The combination with a housing, a springpressed elastic-rubber checkpivotally suspended in the housing and a bumper on the check, of anelastic-rubber detent pivotally mountedbeneath the check, and co-actingmeans on the check and detent for holding the latter against a Wall ofthe housing in alinement with the bumper, a y

REFERENCES CITED i The following references are of Arecord in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 847,113 Ridgway Mar. 12, 19072,247,618 Moroney July 1, 1941

